Alela Diane : AOL One To Watch

AOL have added Alela Diane as "One To Watch"

"Who is she? Alela Diane is an acoustic folk singer-songwriter from Nevada City, California whose sound has been described as "campfire gospel", with a lilting lyrical delivery comparable with Joanna Newsom and Gillian Welch .

Alela Diane's forthcoming album To Be Still, released on 16 Feb is the follow-up to her critically-acclaimed 2006 debut The Pirates Gospel.

Recorded in Nevada City and Portland, Oregon, it's a gorgeous sonic expansion of her sparse debut, featuring pedal steel, violin and rustic percussion, with lyrics tangled up in brambles and foxtails and wind-whipped sea cliffs. From the woozy folk flourishes of opener Dry Grass & Shadows, to the heart-shattering final track, Lady Divine."

Read the full feature here

September "Can't Get Over"

Here's the video for September's new single "Can't Get Over"

Heat World feature Coldplay & Killers War Child Show

Heat World feature the amazing news about the 15th Anniversary show for War Child;

"The Killers and Coldplay regularly sell out ginormous arena, but the two huge bands have just announced that they’re teaming up for an intimate charity gig. Both bands will take to the stage at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire, which holds just 2,000 people, in aid of War Child. The gig will take place on 18 February, straight after the Brit Awards, and tickets cost £50. They’ll be available through a lottery system which opens here at 9am this Friday. “In our eyes, War Child is one of the world's most important charities, and The Killers are one of our favourite bands, so playing this concert is an absolute pleasure for us,” said Coldplay (yes, all four of them talking at once). The Killers added that it’s “an honour” to be performing alongside Chris-Cross Martin and co. Will you be trying your luck at getting tickets or are you happy to sit at home watching The Brits on TV instead?"

Coldplay / Killers / War Child / O2 Shepherds Bush

Amazing coverage for this incredible event - tickets will be available through a lottery, applications will open at 9am Friday 30th January.

In no particular order;

BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat, Q Magazine, NME.com, Uncut, The Sun Online, The Mirror, AOL, MSN, ITV, Virgin Media, XFM, Yahoo!, Music Week, Metro, This Is London, Teletext, Ananova, Heat World Clash Music, Digital Spy, Subba Cultcha, and Click Music amongst others!!

Alela Diane "White As Diamonds" on My Chemical Toilet

My Chemical Toilet review Alela's "White As Diamonds"

"The esteemed editor of Shiny Shiny, Susi Weaser, writes:

Posting duties for this song have been passed on to me by the infinitely lazy Stuart, presumably because the phrases 'violin and rustic percussion' and 'woozy folk flourishes' appear in the press release. Just reading those terms has brought him out in armpit hives, while they've done something altogether more pleasant to me.

"White As Diamonds" is by someone called Alela Diane. I suggest you say that name aloud right now. Personally speaking, it's probably the most pleasing thing to have come out of my mouth since I half-swallowed a wasp and then coughed it up. But of course that was pleasant because it was so unpleasant having it in there - I have not been hiding Alela Diane (say it!) in my mouth all this time. (Er, good to know - Ed)

So. The song (how many times are you supposed to listen to something before it becomes OK for you to make an opinion public? I played it safe and went for three).

Violins; beautiful lyrics (albeit it a slight over-extension of the 'morning like diamonds' metaphor); lots of folksy wailing; a reference to something called 'snorrow' (could that be something akin to "sorrow"?); obligatory pirate-y drowning broken hearts reference. And for extra folksy points she chops her own wood, according to her blog.

"White As Diamonds" comes from her forthcoming album To Be Still, which is released on 16th February. You can download the track for zilch right here, and find out more info at Names Records' brand spanking new blog."

Read the full feature here

Alela Diane is touring the UK in March;

Popjustice sneak peak at Cahill "Sex Shooter" video

Following on from yesterday's Song Of The Day, Popjustice feature a shot from teh forthcoming video;

"You won't need a 2:1 in Media Studies to deconstruct this video's complex semiotic. In yesterday's Song Of The Day blurb - for Cahill's quite excellent new version of 'Sex Shooter' we noted that "if the video doesn't feature some sort of dance routine featuring pretty ladies making gun shapes with their hands and 'shooting' 'sex' with their fingers there is going to be BIG TROUBLE".

Well, the video hasn't been sent out yet but Cahill's people have now been kind enough to send us a screengrab.

Sometimes it really is impossible to underestimate the world of commercial dance music."

Click here to see the full feature

Cahill "Sex Shooter" Sun Exclusive!

The Sun Online feature the brand new video for Cahill's "Sex Shooter"

"SNOW may be forecast for this weekend, but these girls will heat you up from the inside.

The sexy video from Liverpool DJs CAHILL - named after Everton's goal scoring hero TIM - casts a host of hotties playing with laser guns and squirting each other with oodles of neon paint."

See the feature here

War Child presents Coldplay & The Killers at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

War Child are proud to present a once-in-a-lifetime concert, a unique opportunity to see two of the planet's greatest rock bands in one of London's most intimate legendary venues.

The Killers and Coldplay are coming together in aid of War Child for an exclusive concert at the newly renamed O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, in front of just 2,000 lucky music fans.

The event will follow that evening's Brit Awards and each band will be bringing the highlights of their full set to the smaller stage in special 45 minute performances.

The night celebrates War Child’s 15th Anniversary and the release of their new album ‘Heroes’ (released on February 16 on EMI’s Parlophone label). War Child are supported for the evening by O2 to mark the launch of the O2 Academy venues.

General sale tickets to the event are £50 and will be available through a lottery system. The opportunity to enter the lottery will begin at 9am, Friday January 30 through http://www.warchildheroes.com

All profits will go to aid War Child's work to protect the most marginalised children in war zones, who would otherwise be overlooked: street children, child soldiers and children in prison.

Quote from Coldplay:
“In our eyes, War Child is one of the world's most important charities, and The Killers are one of our favourite bands, so playing this concert is an absolute pleasure for us.”

Quote from The Killers:
"Coldplay were one of the bands that gave us hope when we were just four boys in a garage. To share the stage with them for the War Child cause is an honor."

Quote from War Child:
“This is a really special way to mark War Child’s 15th birthday – and a once in a lifetime night,” said Ben Knowles, Music Director of War Child. “War Child are proud and very excited by Coldplay and The Killers’ amazing generosity. The impact their support will have is huge.

Our upcoming album ‘Heroes’ has brought together the 15 greatest music legends of the 20th Century. Now it is a great thrill to be able to welcome the two biggest bands of the 21st Century to the same stage

We’d also like to thank O2 for supporting us in bringing such amazing music to the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.”

Quote from O2:
“We can’t think of a better way to launch the O2 Academy venues than through supporting this special event,” said Alistair Johnston, Marketing Director at O2. “It’s an unrivalled line-up and a great cause which we’re very pleased to support by hosting this event at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.”

HOW TO GET TICKETS
General sale tickets are £50 and will be available through a lottery system which will open at 9am on Friday 30th January.
For how to register visit www.warchildheroes.com
Registration will close at 5pm on Tuesday 3rd February.
Applicants who have won the chance to buy tickets will be notified by Friday 6th February.
Maximum 2 tickets per entry

Cahill "Sex Shooter" Popjustice Song Of The Day!

"Cahill's 'Trippin' On You' was one of last year's most brilliant - and beautiful - club tracks and this cover of 'Sex Shooter' makes up in amazingness for what it lacks in subtlety. There are remixes from about 800 different people but we quite like the normal version. Can we just state right here that if the video doesn't feature some sort of dance routine featuring pretty ladies making gun shapes with their hands and 'shooting' 'sex' with their fingers there is going to be BIG TROUBLE."

Click here to see the feature

Tomorrow Never Knows Feature on Sky News Business Homepage!

The third part of our small business blog has gone live on the Sky News website, and is currently the main feature on the Business Homepage!!

"We had a lovely text message yesterday from British Gas telling us that average gas prices were dropping by 10%. Any reduction is great news, although starting this price drop towards the end of winter is a little questionable, as is the speed they passed on the prices rises last year when the price of oil peaked at almost $150 a barrel.

So why are prices still so high? The cost of wholesale gas has fallen by 50% in the last couple of months, but they've only passed on a measly 10% to they loyal customers. What will Centrica's (British Gas' parent company) profits be this year, when they rose by 40% last year? Can't the Government clobber big businesses that supply vital utilities with a windfall tax to stop them doing this? And how did they get my mobile phone number?"

Read the full feature "Always Read The Small Print here!, click here to read the first blog "We Can Work It Out" and here to read the second part "A Hit? An Album... And Mandelson"

Kid Cudi featured on Bebo Music Homepage

Kid Cudi vs Crooker's "Day N Nite" is featured on the Bebo Music Homepage!

NME.com Exclusive - Lily Allen's cover of The Clash's "Straight To Hell"

NME.com feature Lily Allen & Mick Jones's version of The Clash's "Straight To Hell" for War Child's "Heroes"

"When she was a kid, Lily Allen knew her stepdad as "Uncle Joe", the benevolent, whisky-glugging neighbour who was always hanging out with her dad Keith.

Uncle Joe was, of course, Joe Strummer, ex of The Clash. Years later, Lily Allen cribbed some of The Clash's moves for her debut album. Like them, she delivered second-wave ska in a demotic London accent, guided by an instinct for a sweet pop hook (though with the politics scooped out).

So it makes sense that she's now hooked up with another Clash member, Mick Jones, for a cover of 'Straight To Hell', one of the band's most passion-filled, yet seldom heard, songs.."

Click here to read the full feature and listen to the track!

Kid Cudi: 'I've always been ahead of the curve' The Guardian Online

The Guardian Online get a rare interview with Kid Cudi;

"With the remix of Day'N'Nite entering the singles chart at No 2, Kid Cudi is the hottest tip yet for 2009. We talk Kanye, Dizzee and Crookers with the latest rap sensation.

Congratulations on the chart hit. Did you expect the Day 'N' Nite remix to be such a success?
I remember when I recorded it, I told my homeboy 'O Dot, who produced the track: "This is going to be a No 1 track in some country. I don't know what country, but it's going to take off somewhere." He was like: "I don't know about all that. It is a good record – but No 1?" I believed in the track but it was still my dream that it would take off in the way that way it has. It ended up blowing up not because of any label, investment or corporations pushing it, but because it created a buzz on its own. That's the best feeling, that people naturally took to the record, they connected to it. It's overwhelming, but it's also a dream come true.

When you say No 1 is some country, did you not anticipate America taking to it?
Well, yeah because it was different. I really felt nobody in America was going to rock with it and then I started to have doubts about putting it out. I'd rather be known as an MC and I was worried that if I put this out first then they wouldn't see me like that because I was singing. That was me being self-conscious about what people would think. Ultimately, I decided "fuck that" and did what I wanted to.

Like the Kanye mentality?
Yeah, but this was pre-808s & Heartbreak and pre-Graduation, pre-Stronger. I recorded it before anything that was the next level in hip-hop, especially on an underground level. I've always been ahead of the curve when it came to trying new stuff in the underground scene. I've always felt that because I'm from Cleveland, which isn't recognised as a place for hip-hop, I needed to step it up if I wanted to make myself known. I worked things out and I've found my vibe – although I'm reinventing myself with every new song.

Kanye has said in interviews that you inspire him. That must be flattering?
Yeah, yeah ... it's dope because Kanye has really been helping out. It's overwhelming how supportive he's been. People always have negative things to say about him. And now when I hear those negative things, I take that shit personally. I'm like, "Nah, you're wrong, this dude is seriously cool".

Read the full interview with Kid Cudi here

Popjustice Homepage "Eight important points regarding the new Scissor Sisters song"

Popjustice talk about the Scissor Sister's cover of Roxy Music's "Do The Strand" on the site's homepage;

The Scissor Sisters have done a new song!

1. It's called 'Do The Strand'.

2. "'Do The Strand'?" think Popjustice's pensionable readers. "As in the Roxy Music song of yesteryear? The opening track of their iconic second album 'For Your Pleasure'?"

3. Yes, that 'Do The Strand'. Scissor Sisters have quite literally covered 'Do The Strand'.

4. They've covered it for War Child, who've got a new album out. The whole point of this new album is that a load of old duffers ('legends') have delved into their back catalogues and picked tracks for The Youth to cover. In this instance we find Roxy Music selecting 'Do The Strand' for Scissor Sisters.

To see the feature in full and read the other four points click here!

"Estelle Lost For Words" The Sun Online

The Sun feature the behind the scenes trailer for the forthcoming War Child album "Heroes", and in particular, the moment when Estelle sees Stevie's Keys!

"ESTELLE was lost for words when told she would be using the keyboard STEVIE WONDER used to record legendary song Superstition when making her cover of the track.

The songbird has re-tooled the classic for the forthcoming War Child Heroes compilation — which sees legends choose their favourite contemporary artists to cover one of their tracks.

Her version features rapper BUSTA RHYMES and was recorded in Electric Lady studios in New York — where Stevie laid down the original more than 30 years ago.

Watch Estelle’s reaction when she was shown the prized instrument and HOT CHIP and THE KOOKS discussing the tracks they are recording for the album in the video above."

Click here to see the full feature and to watch the video with Estelle, it also features The Kooks, Hot Chip and Rufus Wainwright

Scissor Sister's "Do The Strand" is today's Popjustice Song Of The Day!

Roxy Music picked the Scissor Sisters as their choice to cover "Do The Strand" for War Child's "Heroes" album and Popjustice have made it their Song Of The Day!!

"War Child have been knocking out v decent albums for over a decade and the newest album, 'War Child Heroes', finds various elder statesmenandwomen of pop picking younger artists to cover their songs.

Roxy Music have chosen Scissor Sisters to cover 'Do The Strand' and the results are... Well, the results are a lot like Scissor Sisters covering 'Do The Strand'.

ie Really quite listenable."

Click here to see the feature and to listen to the track!

Elbow's "Running To Stand Still" is today's Record Of The Day!

U2 picked Elbow as their choice to cover "Running To Stand Still" for War Child's "Heroes" album, and it has been made the editorial choice for today's Record Of The Day!

"Heroes is the forthcoming charity album in aid of War Child. The album concept is that iconic artists select their favourite songs from their own canon and nominate an artist from the next generation to rework it. Elbow provide a beautiful cover of one of our favourite U2 songs here. Elsewhere on the album, Lily Allen covers a Clash b-side, Hot Chip cover Joy Division, Duffy sings a Paul McCartney song and Estelle does a Stevie Wonder classic. A raft of media activity is planned to support the release. EMI has made a substantial upfront donation to War Child and all UK profits made by Parlophone will be passed to War Child to help protect children living in the world's most dangerous war zones. Pre-order and/or donate. JF"

Kid Cudi No.2 In Singles Chart & Interview

"Day N Nite" enters the UK chart at No.2 this week!

See below for a rare interview with Kid Cudi, on the set of the "Day N Nite" video

Day N Nite video featured on Tiscali Music Homepage

"Rapper Kid Cudi releases this enormous floor filling remix with a little help from production duo Crookers"

Click here

Tomorrow Never Knows Feature on Sky News Business Homepage!

The latest installment for the Sky News Website was made the main feature on the Business Homepage with the War Child "Heroes" album sleeve!

"A Good Week For Music Biz - our music industry writers give us the lowdown on the business - with good news from Peter Mandelson"

Click here to see the full feature!!

Tomorrow Never Knows featured in Record Of The Day Magazine!

We're featured in the Record Of The Day Magazine!

"Ritch & Bally Ames from online PR and digital marketing firm Tomorrow Never Knows have started writing a blog for Sky News. Follow them as they write about how a small music firm survives the recession. As to how they might survive, the clue could be in his first post - Ritch has managed to get in a picture of his client Basshunter and plugs for clients Archangel, Ruarri Joseph and Mesh-29!"

Click here to go to the Record Of The Day website, and get a free trail of the daily newsletter

Virgin Media: One track, ten remixes from US rapper poised to be massive

Virgin Media review Kid Cudi VS Crookers "Day N Nite"

"The enthusiastic patronage of Kanye West has ensured that Kid Cudi is currently Amercia’s hottest new hip-hop property. The rapper/singer has appeared on Kanye’s new album 808s & Heartbreak, supported his mentor on tour, and in advance of his debut album, Man On The Moon: The Guardians, his record label is now releasing an album-length CD of ten remixes of his first single, Day ‘N’ Nite, by Italian club DJs and producers Crookers.

The song is formidable, a spacey, bass-heavy slice of deep house that will sound fantastic echoing around club rafters, but one questions exactly how many versions of the song even the most loyal Cudi fan will require. Despite the best efforts of the estimable Crookers, it’s hard to get a piece of paper between the Jokers Of The Scene remix and the Agent X Remix, for example. Nevertheless, Day ‘N’ Nite is a hugely promising debut, and leaves you thinking that Kid Cudi may even justify Kanye’s elevated opinion of his protégé’s worth."

Click here to see this review

Ruarri Joseph a Subba Cultcha EP Of The Month

Subba Cultcha have make Ruarri's "Red Mist" an EP Of The Month!

"It takes a brave man to walk away from a deal with Atlantic Records, but Rurrai’s return, this time self-released, shows effortless promise, which should see him back supporting the Greys and Nutinis of this world, before you know it."

Virgin Media review "Day N Nite"

One track, ten remixes from US rapper poised to be massive

"The enthusiastic patronage of Kanye West has ensured that Kid Cudi is currently Amercia’s hottest new hip-hop property. The rapper/singer has appeared on Kanye’s new album 808s & Heartbreak, supported his mentor on tour, and in advance of his debut album, Man On The Moon: The Guardians, his record label is now releasing an album-length CD of ten remixes of his first single, Day ‘N’ Nite, by Italian club DJs and producers Crookers.

The song is formidable, a spacey, bass-heavy slice of deep house that will sound fantastic echoing around club rafters, but one questions exactly how many versions of the song even the most loyal Cudi fan will require. Despite the best efforts of the estimable Crookers, it’s hard to get a piece of paper between the Jokers Of The Scene remix and the Agent X Remix, for example. Nevertheless, Day ‘N’ Nite is a hugely promising debut, and leaves you thinking that Kid Cudi may even justify Kanye’s elevated opinion of his protégé’s worth"

Click here to see the full review

War Child Announcement Coverage

Some of the coverage Tomorrow Never Knows has secured for War Child's "Heroes";

MySpace Homepage, Sky News, MSN Entertainment, The Sun Online, Record Of The Day, Mojo, Uncut, Orange, Ananova, MTV, Dancenova, Gigwise, The Fly, Stereogum, Pitchfork, Teletext, Clash Online, Room Thirteen, Female First, Music News, Angry Ape

Yahoo Review Travis's Song To Self

"It's hard not to feel more than a pang of sympathy for Travis. The turn of the century saw the quartet ride on the swell of goodwill elicited by the typically British shrug of the shoulders that was"Why Does It Always Rain Me?", as they went on to headline one festival after another, usually with the rain tipping down on cue.

However, somewhere along the line, Fran and co found their position as the nation's favourite inoffensive balladeers cruelly usurped by the inconsequential hand-wringing tedium of Coldplay, the stadium indie of Snow Patrol and the thoroughly pleasant though no less boring warblings of Keane, to the degree that their current appeal falls within that diplomatic area known as "selective".

"Song To Self" finally sees Travis' original promise of "All I Wanna Do Is Rock" made flesh with a slice of widescreen action that eschews acoustic guitars for plugged-in electricity. This jarring jolt creates a reaction they haven't induced in almost a decade. Is this really the same band that sent us off to sleep with "Flowers In The Window"? Well, the real question remains whether they have simply left things far too late and could the title just be painfully prophetic?"

Click here to see this review

AOL review Travis's Song To Self

"He can't half write a song that Fran Healy. Travis' glory days are well and truly over it would appear, but while they keep putting out songs as effective as this, they'll be around for a good while longer."

Click here!

Alela Diane "White As Diamonds"

"White As Diamonds" is taken from the forthcoming album "To Be Still" (16th Feb), the follow-up to Alela Dianes critically-acclaimed 2006 debut "The Pirate's Gospel" which brought the Nevada City, CA-reared musician a passionate following across the Globe especially in europe where Alela has a huge fan base..

Recorded in Nevada City and Portland, Ore., it's a gorgeous sonic expansion of her sparse debut, featuring pedal steel, violin and rustic percussion, with lyrics tangled up in brambles and foxtails and wind-whipped sea cliffs. From the woozy folk flourishes of opener "Dry Grass & Shadows," to the heart-shattering final track, "Lady Divine".

"It began in Portland, OR and was finished in scatters between tours at my dad's home studio in Nevada City, CA," Alela says. "I wanted to record this collection of songs using arrangements which would represent them in their finest form. These songs requested more instrumental filigree than those on The Pirate's Gospel. It was challenging to delicately yet purposefully incorporate instrumentation into songs that I was so used to singing by myself. I was determined to make it work, because I wanted percussion! I wanted to hear the lonesome bow of the violin! I heard many harmonies in my head, and so I set out to capture them."

This fantastic new album comes hot on the heels of the Headless Heroes album The Silence of Love which Alela contributed vocals for and has gained much critical acclaim and thousands of new fans!!

Click here to find out more about Alela Diane

Tomorrow Never Knows featured on Sky News Website!

We've been asked by Sky News to write a weekly blog, detailing what its like for a small business in the current economic climate.

The introduction to the blog is featured on the Business Homepage of the Sky News website, as will all weekly updates.

This is the introduction;

"Many small businesses are facing a fight for survival this year as the global economic downturn gets worse.

Ritch and Bally Ames are a husband-and-wife team who run Tomorrow Never Knows, an online PR, digital marketing and new media consultancy that operates mostly in the music industry.
Their current clients include Basshunter, War Child, Travis, Kid Cudi, Archangel, Ruarri Joseph, Red Blooded Women and GuilFest. They have also worked with Embrace, Paul Weller, Fatboy Slim and So Solid Crew

The couple, who have two young children, run the firm out of the top floor of their Guildford home in Surrey. Sky News Online has asked them to write for us on the ups and downs they face as a small firm. We'll be following their progress as they battle to keep ahead of the opposition, cope with the deteriorating economic climate and deal with the challenges faced by the music industry."

And here's our first contribution to the site!
"Daily doom and gloom updates from the media about the economy has made people really think hard about how they are spending their money.

Entertainment traditionally gets cut first, and gig ticket sales are down, venues are closing across the country.
The knock-on effect from all of this to a service company like ours is a reduction in the marketing spend from labels and artists. In this current economical climate we've been forecasting our costs and profits for this year much more closely than last year.

As a small business our overheads are relatively low but over the last year these running costs have steadily increased, eating into profit margins. Not sure how much more you can cut off basic running costs needed for a business like electricity, post and travel.

Like many others, we've suffered with cashflow problems, a direct result of our clients being paid late themselves - fortunately the Government has stepped in to help small businesses. Having a safety net like the Business Support Service does give peace of mind but what the Government doesn't publicise is that the amount owed is charged at 7%, nowhere near the record breaking 1.5% base rate. We're still scratching our heads trying to work out how a reduction from 17.5% to 15% on the VAT has helped us. What has happened over the last few months in the music industry has really taken everyone by surprise."

Read the full feature here!

War Child Heroes - Full Artist & Track List Announced!!

War Child announce the full list of artists and songs that feature on their new album “Heroes”, released on Parlophone on February 16th .

The album concept is that the biggest legends in music history select one of their personal favourite songs from their own songwriting canon, and nominate a music hero from the next generation to create a modern reworking of that classic song. The album is in support of the real heroes – children who live with the brutal affects of war.

The tracklist in full:
1. Beck (Bob Dylan: Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat)
2. Scissor Sisters (Roxy Music: Do The Strand)
3. Lily Allen (The Clash: Straight To Hell)
4. Duffy (Paul McCartney: Live And Let Die)
5. Elbow (U2: Running To Stand Still)
6. TV On The Radio (David Bowie: Heroes)
7. Hot Chip (Joy Division: Transmission)
8. The Kooks (The Kinks: Victoria)
9. Estelle (Stevie Wonder: Superstition)
10. Rufus Wainwright (Brian Wilson: Wonderful/ Song For Children)
11. Peaches (Iggy Pop: Search And Destroy)
12. The Hold Steady (Bruce Springsteen: Atlantic City)
13. The Like (Elvis Costello: You Belong To Me)
14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The Ramones: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker)
15. Franz Ferdinand (Blondie: Call Me)

Guy Garvey of Elbow commented: “War Child do exactly what it says on the tin. These kids shouldn't be in such circumstances in the first place, but they are, so thank god someone's doing something about it.”

Sir Paul McCartney said: "I have been supporting War Child since 1995. Their work with children in war zones saves lives and their work with those who take decisions that help them to do something about it saves even more lives. The breadth of talent on this project is amazing; it's great that so many people gave their time, energy and support to this initiative. I urge everyone to support War Child."

EMI has made a substantial upfront payment to War Child, and will release the album on its Parlophone label.
Parlophone are donating all their profits to War Child's work to protect the most marginalised children in war zones, who would otherwise be overlooked: street children, child soldiers and children in prison.

www.warchild.org.uk/heroes

Notes on “Heroes”


· The 15 legends supporting the project have combined global album sales of over 1.4bn



· The new acts chosen to cover the classic tracks include the UK’s biggest selling album artist of 2008, Duffy; the current Mercury prize winners, Elbow; and the act behind the most critically acclaimed album of 2008, TV On The Radio.



· Some legends selected one of their all-time classic standards like Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’, covered by Estelle, and Blondie’s ‘Call Me’, covered by Franz Ferdinand. Some selected favourite tracks that deserve to be rediscovered as with Scissor Sister’s exhilarating version of Roxy Music’s ‘Do The Strand’ (not released as a single in the UK) and Lily Allen’s stunning new take on The Clash’s ‘Straight To Hell’ (originally the b-side of ‘Should I Stay, Or Should I Go’).

· The album was recorded over six months in studios in London, Manchester, Paris, Berlin, New York and Los Angeles. It was mastered at Abbey Road studios in London.

· “Heroes” is War Child’s fifth album, dating back to 1995’s legendary “Help” album. War Child’s albums have won awards at the Brit Awards, as well as from Q and NME.


Notes on War Child

· War Child is an international charity, founded in 1993 and works in the world’s most dangerous war zones including Iraq, Afghanistan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. War Child aims to protect children who are hit hardest by war and its consequences.

· 66% of people who die in conflict are children

Crookers featured on MySpace!

Crookers, who did the amazing remix of Kid Cudi's "Day N Nite" are featured on the MySpace Music Homepage!

"Day N Nite" is available to download now -

Rudenko "Everybody" today's Popjustice Song Of The Day!

Popjustice have added Rudenko's "Everybody" as their Song Of The Day!

"If this record never existed the world would not be remotely different. 'Everybody' does not make our live better, or worse. It is just one of those records that sits there being incredible. If it wasn't this record it would be another one. But it's this one. Dance music journalism at its very best there, viewers."

Click here to see the feature

Kid Cudi No.8 In BBC Sound Poll 2009

"Currently the hottest new hip-hop artist in the US, Kid Cudi has signed to Kanye West's label, features on the star's new album and has been supporting him on tour.

Like his mentor, the 23-year-old, from Cleveland, Ohio - known as Scott Mescudi to his mum - is at the adventurous end of rap and his single Day 'N' Nite bridges the gap between dance and urban."

The BBC Sound Of 2009 highlights the best new music talent as chosen by a variety of Music Industry experts. The final ten are:
1. Little Boots
2. White Lies
3. Florence And The Machine
4. Empire Of The Sun
5. La Roux
6. Lady GaGa
7. VV Brown
8. Kid Cudi
9. Passion Pit
10. Dan Black
For more information click here

Rudenko "Everybody" today's Record Of The Day!

"Young Russian producer and DJ Rudenko's 'Everybody' was one of the most-talked about records to come out of Amsterdam Dance Event last year. It's number one on the DMC Buzz Chart and ended the year top of the Cool Cuts chart. It has made a successful leap to daytime radio and is now a R1 Record of the Week on Scott Mills (breakfast show cover for Moyles). It has already had specialist support at R1 from Pete Tong and has been added to Galaxy. This is exactly the type of electro-house crossover that Data are capable of turning into a smash".

Travis's alternative video for "Song To Self"

Travis fans were asked to film themselves performing "Song To Self" in whatever location they liked and post the videos as a response to the official video on the bands YouTube video, we then ripped (shh) and mashed the videos together to make a brand new alternative video. Entries came from all four corners of the globe, our particular favourites are Spike McHeavy for his Achtung Baby Era Bono, and the chap that filmed himself in toilet onboard an airplane!

Click Music 4 out 5 review for Travis

"Travis can be terribly inconsistent at times. We all know that they can produce absolute gems which will shortly be followed by something... not so shiny. Fortunately this falls into the former category - it's got 'anthem' scrawled in white all over it. 'Song To Self' sounds powerful and relevant, which for Travisnowadays, is a very good thing. The tune is a little more rock orientated than one may be used to, nodding to the likes of Radiohead and Manic Street Preachersfor inspiration but keeping the same great indie melodies.

The drums and guitars create a well structured wall of power-pop for the vocals to smash off of with a serious intent, ready to wash into your ears. If you are not caught up in some part of this, it's possible that you have no soul. It's clear thatTravis are re-invigorated and ready to rock the early part of 2009; a song that they sing to themselves, but fans old and new will certainly embrace this emotive tune and make it their own as they try and get through the first months of this new year."

Click here to see the full review

Rudenko Featured On Sun's Bizarre Homepage!

Rudenko's "Everybody" makes the lead story on the Sun Online's Music Homepage and also makes the Bizarre Homepage with the video exclusive and photo slideshow.

"PUSSYCAT DOLLS step aside. There is a new posse of totty to titillate.

RUDENKO has cast a super hot gang of girls in his new video for Everybody. The dance track is a sexy little firecracker from the 23-year-old Russian wonder.

Born and raised in Moscow, the young producer began churning out tunes at just 10-years-old, experimenting with software and samplers before forging a successful production and DJ career in his teens.

SCOTT MILLS hailed the track as Record Of The Week, while the likes of PETE TONG and JUDGE JULES have also championed the European star.

Everybody is released on February 16th"

Click here to see the feature!

Travis on Clash Music Homepage

Clash Music interview Travis drummer & racing car driver Neil Primrose;

"Returning Scots indie heroes Travis have dropped by ClashMusic.com to talk about their new album and newfound independence. Although nine years have passed since the release of their international breakthrough second album, 'The Man Who', Travis retain a fond place in the hearts of music fans where other Britpop luminaries have found themselves in the bargain bin of musical resentment.

After their deal with longtime home Independiente expired recently, the band uncovered their DIY roots and released their latest album - 'Ode To J. Smith' - on their own Red Telephone Box imprint.

The result was one of their strongest albums in years, a collection of songs with no other agenda than to say something worth hearing. New single 'Song To Self' is out this week (REVIEW), and we caught up with drummer Neil Primrose to find out more…

So, you’re independent again. How does that feel?
It’s a bit daunting, really. It comes with pros and cons, but then there’s always been pros and cons in this business. There are a lot of things that have to be done by a certain deadline, but when you’re in a band all that costs you money. Going on your own facilitates doing it a little bit cheaper, and getting it done on time, without having the networking capability that a record company has. You have to work a lot harder at it, but in a way I would say it’s a lot more rewarding.

How has that affected decision-making within the band?
That’s the thing with Travis – we’re four guys, four individuals with different personalities. But then you’ve got Travis, an indie band. I think the thing with bands is that they become ‘brands’, so people always delegate to keep things fresh, to keep the band working. We pretty much always work together anyway, so there’s not much delegating needed. It’s more about continuing writing rather than touring. We just wanted to make records quickly.

Read the full interview here!

Shared on Uncut, Tiscali & Music-News

Miles Hunt's "Shared" event makes the news pages of Tiscali, Uncut and Music-News

From Uncut;

"The Wonder Stuff's Miles Hunt has curated an evening of acoustic music to take place at the end of the month, with invited artists including The Mission's Wayne Hussey and Aztec Camera's Roddy Frame.

The evening, called Shared, takes place at the Birmingham Town Hall on January 30, and will also see performances from Haircut 100's Nick Heyward and Wonder Stuff member Erica Nockalls."

For more info click here

Digital Spy's Kid Cudi Review

Digital Spy give Day 'N Nite a 4 out of 5 review;

"Signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D record label and about to star in US TV series How To Make It In America, it's no surprise that critics are tipping Kid Cudi as a one to watch in 2009. Modestly claiming that his music will "set the pace for the new generation", expectations are high ahead of the release of his debut single.

For its UK release, 'Day 'n' Nite' has been given a hefty remix from knob-twiddling duo Crookers. Originally sounding like it could have fit comfortably onto West's 808s & Heartbreaksalbum, it's now been transformed into a floor-filling hybrid of drum 'n' bass, dance and garage. The result? It's looking like those critics are going to be proved right."

Click here to see the review

CMU Daily Review Kid Cudi

"He's been tipped by Rolling Stone, worked with Kanye West and been on the cover of US hip-hop magazine, XXL, and now Kid Cudi has come to the UK with his hip hop tones and electro beats that aspire to bring a touch of credibility to the dancefloor. The Kid succeeds. With Crookers delivering a host of loops and samples, this is a world beyond any generic floorfiller. There's oscillations and joy makings in the science of this form, and Kid Cudi's vocals relate a driven individual, eager to escape a lifetime of monotony. Escape in this - day or night."

To subscribe to CMU Daily click here

The Wonder Stuff's Miles Hunt presents Shared!

Miles Hunt has personally invited a group of the artists whom he has admired over the years, to perform acoustic/stripped back sets at Shared at The Birmingham Town Hall on Friday 30th January 2009.

Those artists are;

Wayne Hussey (The Mission)
Nick Heyward (Haircut 100)
Roddy Frame (Aztec Camera)
Katell Keineg
Miles Hunt will also be performing, as will Erica Nockalls of The Wonder Stuff.

Review tickets for this show are available, as are the artists for interviews. Please do shout if you would like tickets or promo time.

For more information go to www.myspace.com/sharedevent - to buy tickets click here



"Having now been touring and releasing records for over two decades I have seen more than my fair share of gigs. From the early energetic and often shambolic era of the mid’ 80’s Indie Music Scene, where I first cut my teeth, to the more considered forum of the acoustic singer/songwriter & raconteur that I now find myself a part of. And I’m more than happy in the company that I currently share.

So much so that having been given the opportunity to play at the newly refurbished Birmingham Town Hall I fought off the temptation of simply hogging the limelight to myself and instead felt compelled to invite a gathering of some of the finest players I’ve seen over the years, some of them friends of mine and others that I have admired from a distance. Every artist performing at “Shared” has had a great affect on me, not only as a writer/performer myself, but also as a fan and I take it as an honour that they have accepted my invite.

I like to think that this, hopefully the first of many such events, will allow audiences to reconnect, or even connect for the first time, with artists that continue to write, record and tour but in my humble opinion perhaps do not receive the attention that they deserve, given their wonderfully consistent output, each spanning more than a decade. And where better to stage this event than the prestigious surroundings of Birmingham Town Hall?

It is with great pleasure then that I invite one and all to come and share in a night that features such varied and distinct performers. It promises to be a very special evening indeed."

Miles Hunt

Kid Cudi Guardian Online New Band Of The Day!

Kid Cudi is today's New Band Of The Day on the Guardian Online!

" The Cool Kids and Kid Sister didn't quite enjoy the crossover success in 2008 that some pundits predicted and some hip-hop fans might have liked, but a consensus is growing around Cleveland-born, Brooklyn-based Kid Cudi that suggests it could be third time lucky for rappers called 'Kid'. He's one of the BBC's tips for 2009 alongside the expected La Roux, Florence and the Machine and Little Boots, and according to Radio 1Extra his single Day'N'Nite is engaging fans of hip-hop, urban, alt rock and electronica in a way that no rapper has done since Kanye West.

In fact, the 23-year-old Kid Cudi – sometimes spelled K.I.D C.U.D.I. or KiD CuDi, and not as he has made clear Kudi, Kutti, Cutty or Cuttie, and pronounced "Cuh-Dee" – is currently the hottest new hip-hop artist in the US, having signed to Kanye's label, featured on his latest album 808s & Heartbreak (singing on the track Welcome to Heartbreak) and supported his mentor on tour."

The buzz: "Splitting the difference between big-shit bravado and shoulder-shrug cool."

The truth: He's too nice to annihilate the masses.

Most likely to: Be a decent addition to the thoughtful, conscious rap canon.

Least likely to: Be a multi-platform, multimedia mogul.

Click here to read the full feature

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!